Magnetic Recording Medium and Manufacturing Method Therefor

ABSTRACT

A card-like magnetic recording medium comprising a non-magnetic substrate and a laminate containing a magnetic recording layer wherein the laminate is placed in at least a portion of the non-magnetic substrate; wherein the laminate comprises a light reflection quantity controlling layer, which includes a binder resin and at least one of a scale-like metal powder and fine flakes obtained from a metallic thin film and is formed on the magnetic recording layer, and further comprises a glistening coating layer which includes glistening particles and is formed on the light reflection quantity controlling layer; and the maximum reflectance of diffuse reflection light with respect to incident lights having a wavelength from 400 to 700 nm is 20 to 70% on a portion where the glistening coating layer is provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a card-like magnetic recording mediumwith a novel metallic appearance; a method for manufacturing themagnetic recording medium; and a laminate to be transferred formanufacturing the magnetic recording medium. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a card-like magnetic recording medium whichshows glistening brilliance with high luminance due to themulti-directional reflection from glistening particles, and can easilyadjust the lightness and chromaticness of a background color.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, a card design having glistening brilliance has beenused in a magnetic card required to have excellent designcharacteristics such as a credit card and a bankcard. The aforementionedmagnetic card is manufactured by applying glistening particles which areused in an automobile body or the like to a card substrate. Theglistening particles are prepared by coating a flaky substrate made fromglass or the like as a base material with a metal or the like. When alayer containing the particles is provided on the card, the particlescan multi-directionally reflect incident light which arrives at the cardon the particle's surface having high reflectivity, and produce a lot ofluminescent spots with high luminance on the card. Moreover, the cardshows high design-characteristics because the distribution state andluminance of the luminescent spots can change according to a viewingdirection.

On the other band, from the viewpoint of design compatibility with thewhole card, a magnetic stripe section provided on a magnetic cardpreferably has a design in which the magnetic stripe section has thebackground color similar to the color of a card substrate of themagnetic card, has glistening brilliance, and furthermore can be set atan arbitrary hue for the above-described background color.

However, when a glistening coating layer containing glisteningparticles, a binder resin and a color pigment as needed is used in theconfiguration of the magnetic stripe section, the magnetic stripesection can not acquire high chromaticness and lightness, because theglistening particles themselves are inferior in masking ability, and asa result, can not completely mask a black or brown color originatingfrom a magnetic powder which is essentially contained in a magneticrecording layer of a magnetic card. On the other hand, when the magneticstripe section adopts the glistening coating layer containing anincreased amount of color pigment so as to mask sufficiently the colorof the magnetic recording layer, the magnetic stripe section loses theglistening brilliance originating in glistening particles becauseincident light easily attenuates in the coating layer. For this reason,it has been difficult to use an arbitrary hue for the background colorwhile maintaining the brilliance of the glistening particles, and toimpart the uniform brightness not only on the part on which the magneticstripe is formed but also on the whole surface of the card, andconsequently a degree of freedom in the step of imparting a design ontothe card has been limited.

For instance, a magnetic recording medium is disclosed which tries toacquire glossiness and a distinct hue of the surface of a magnetic card,without masking the surface of a magnetic recording layer with a metalvapor-deposited layer. The magnetic recording medium is prepared bydirectly forming a colored layer which includes a pearly (pearl color)pigment formed of mica or micaceous iron oxide having the surface coatedwith titanium dioxide or zirconium dioxide on the magnetic recordinglayer, so as to impart the distinct hue with glossiness (Patent Document1).

However, in the method, when the colored layer employs mica as a basematerial of the pearly pigment, the magnetic recording medium shows poorglistening brilliance, and can not show high chromaticness for abackground color because mica cannot sufficiently mask the magneticrecording layer. In addition, when the colored layer employs micaceousiron oxide as a base material of the pearly pigment, the base materialitself appears as a red, so that the method can be applied to a reddishhue but cannot be applied to other hues.

On the other hand, a vapor-deposited layer of aluminum or tin is widelyused as a masking layer, for a method of masking a magnetic recordinglayer. These masking layers can mask a hue of a magnetic recording layerwith a small film thickness. However, these masking layers make thebackground of a magnetic recording medium too bright because they havehigh reflectivity, and accordingly diminish the glistening appearancepeculiar to glistening particles when the glistening particles areemployed, which is inconvenient. It is generally difficult to set thereflectance at a low level by controlling the vapor-deposited layer intoan extremely thin film.

A technology is also disclosed for the purpose of completely masking thehue of a magnetic recording layer by using a transfer-type magnetic tapewhich has been prepared by stacking a protective layer, a colored layer,a masking layer, a magnetic recording layer and an adhesive layer on asubstrate for transfer, in this order from a side close to thesubstrate. The film thickness of the masking layer containing a binderresin and fine flakes obtained from a metallic thin film is controlledinto 1 μm or thinner (Patent Document 2) so as not to deteriorate therecording/reproducing characteristics. However, it is not clear whethera magnetic recording medium comprising both of a layer which has acomposition of the masking layer of the aforementioned cited documentand a glistening coating layer formed thereon can achieve a magneticstripe with the glistening brilliance, can realize the lightness andchromaticness of the background color, and can control them over a widerange without reducing a reproduced output while achieving masking ofblack or dark brown colors of the magnetic recording layer, and it hasnot been examined.

On the other hand, in the field of painting a carbody, a method isdisclosed which arranges a metallic layer containing an aluminum powderunder a glistening coating layer as a masking layer (Patent Document 3).

However, the metallic layer described in the cited document requires aconsiderably large film thickness in order to mask an underlayer, andwhen the layer structure is applied to a magnetic card as it is, themagnetic recording layer inevitably has greatly degraded therecording/reproducing characteristics because the combination of themasking layer and the glistening coating layer is too thick.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, FirstPublication No. Hei 2-122421

Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, FirstPublication No. 2002-304718

Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, FirstPublication No. Hei 2-160079

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide acard-like magnetic recording medium which is superior inrecording/reproducing characteristics and has an appearance havingglistening brilliance and a background color which can have varioushues, chromaticness and lightness; a method for manufacturing themagnetic recording medium; and a laminate to be transferred which isused in the manufacturing method.

The present invention provides a card-like magnetic recording mediumcomprising a non-magnetic substrate and a laminate containing a magneticrecording layer wherein the laminate is placed in at least a portion ofthe non-magnetic substrate; wherein the laminate comprises a lightreflection quantity controlling layer, which includes a binder resin andat least one of a scale-like metal powder and fine flakes obtained froma metallic thin film and is formed on the magnetic recording layer, andfurther comprises a glistening coating layer which includes glisteningparticles and is formed on the light reflection quantity controllinglayer; and

the maximum reflectance of diffuse reflection light with respect toincident lights having a wavelength from 400 to 700 nm is 20 to 70% on aportion where the glistening coating layer is provided.

The layer containing the glistening particles according to the presentinvention is formed on the magnetic recording layer of the magneticcard, via the light reflection quantity controlling layer containing thescale-like metal powder and/or the fine flakes obtained from a metallicthin film and the binder resin; and furthermore the maximum reflectanceof diffuse reflection light with respect to incident lights having awavelength of 400 to 700 nm on the region in which the glisteningcoating layer is formed is controlled from 20 to 70%. Accordingly, themagnetic recording medium can have an appearance wherein glitter causedby the diffused reflection of incident light exists against thebackground of a background color which can have various grades oflightness, while masking a hue of the magnetic recording layer withoutgreatly degrading recording/reproducing characteristics of the magneticrecording layer. As a result, the magnetic card can acquire greatlyimproved design characteristics.

The present invention further provides a method for manufacturing acard-like magnetic recording medium, which comprises a non-magneticsubstrate and a magnetic recording layer provided in at least a portionof the non-magnetic substrate and has a pattern with a background colorand luminescent spots uniformly distributed in the background color onthe magnetic recording layer, comprising:

forming a light reflection quantity controlling layer containing abinder resin and at least one of a scale-like metal powder and fineflakes obtained from a metallic thin film, and a glistening coatinglayer containing a binder resin and glistening particles, on a magneticrecording layer in that order, so that at least one of a film thicknessof the light reflection quantity controlling layer and the content ofthe scale-like metal powder and/or the fine flakes obtained from ametallic thin film are lower than the required value for completelymasking the magnetic recording layer, to obtain a card-like magneticrecording medium having controlled lightness and chromaticness of thebackground color.

It becomes possible to preferably adjust the reflectance and lightnessof a light reflection quantity controlling layer, by forming the lightreflection quantity controlling layer such that the film thickness ofthe light reflection quantity controlling layer or the content of ascale-like metal powder or fine flakes obtained from a metallic thinfilm is changed to a lower value than necessary for completely maskingthe magnetic recording layer. Accordingly, it is possible to adjust themaximum reflectance of a diffuse reflection light regarding incidentlights of a wavelength from 400 to 700 nm between 20 to 70%, on aportion where the glistening coating layer is formed on the lightreflection quantity controlling layer.

The present invention still further provides a laminate to betransferred, which is usable for a manufacturing method for a card-likemagnetic recording medium wherein a transfer step is included. Thelaminate comprises a glistening coating layer containing glisteningparticles with a mirror-like luster surface, a light reflection quantitycontrolling layer and a magnetic recording layer laminated on asubstrate for transfer in that order, and the light reflection quantitycontrolling layer includes a binder resin and at least one of ascale-like metal powder and fine flakes obtained from a metallic thinfilm.

It becomes possible to easily produce a magnetic card having a gooddesign imparted by the glistening coating layer, by using the laminateto be transferred according to the present invention in a transfer step.

A card-like magnetic recording medium according to the present inventionwhich has a light reflection quantity controlling layer containing abinder resin and a scale-like metal powder or fine flakes obtained froma metallic thin film formed on a magnetic recording layer and a layercontaining glistening particles further formed thereon can achieve tomasking of a hue of the magnetic recording layer without greatlydegrading recording/reproducing characteristics of the magneticrecording layer and can provide a glistening appearance. The card-likemagnetic recording medium also has excellent design characteristics,because the light reflection quantity controlling layer reflectsincident light, and thereby can enhance the glistening appearance basedon the diffused reflection of incident light due to the glisteningparticles.

The light reflection quantity controlling layer with high maskingability can be extremely thinned, so that it becomes possible to controlan amount of reflecting light regarding the incident light and a degreeof masking the color of the magnetic recording layer, by adjusting thefilm thickness of the light reflection quantity controlling layer insuch a range as not to seriously affect recording/reproducingcharacteristics. Accordingly, the light reflection quantity controllinglayer can adjust the lightness of the background color at the glisteningappearance by controlling its film thickness, and consequently thelightness only of the background color can be controlled whilemaintaining glistening brilliance. In addition, when employing a colorpigment together with the glistening particles in a glistening coatinglayer, it is possible to appropriately adjust the lightness,chromaticness and hue of the background color over a wide range, withoutdeteriorating the brilliance of the luminescent spots caused by theglistening particles. The above-described lightness, chromaticness andhue can also be adjusted by controlling the content of a scale-likemetal powder or fine flakes obtained from a metallic thin film in alight reflection quantity controlling layer.

Due to the card-like magnetic recording medium according to the presentinvention, it is possible to obtain a card-like magnetic recordingmedium which can show adequate magnetic recording/reproducingcharacteristics and causes no readout error for recorded information, inthe respect of the characteristics required for a magnetic card.

In addition, a transfer-type magnetic tape which can be prepared bycutting a laminate to be transferred according to the present inventioninto a width of a magnetic stripe can be used in a process formanufacturing a magnetic card required to have an excellent design suchas a credit card and a bankcard, and can realize a card design havingglistening brilliance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a constructional cross-sectional view of a transfer-typemagnetic tape.

FIG. 2 is a constructional cross-sectional view after a laminatecontaining a magnetic recording layer has been transferred onto a cardsubstrate by using a transfer-type magnetic tape.

FIG. 3 is a constructional cross-sectional view after a laminatecontaining a magnetic recording layer has been embedded into a cardsubstrate by conducting thermal-press of the laminate subsequent totransfer of a transfer-type magnetic tape onto the card substrate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

-   1 substrate for transfer-   2 protective layer-   3 glistening coating layer-   4 light reflection quantity controlling layer-   5 magnetic recording layer-   6 adhesive layer-   7 card substrate

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described in detail below.

First of all, one embodiment of a laminate to be transferred accordingto the present invention and a magnetic recording medium for a cardaccording to the present invention, which is manufactured from thelaminate, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As is shown in FIG. 1, the lamina to be transferred according to thepresent invention is manufactured by sequentially stacking a substrate 1for transfer; a protective layer 2 which can be peeled from thesubstrate 1 for transfer and which has a function for protecting amagnetic stripe as the outermost surface layer of the magnetic cardafter the laminate has been transferred onto the card, and can be formedas needed; a glistening coating layer 3; a light reflection quantitycontrolling layer 4 provided on the glistening coating layer 3; amagnetic recording layer 5 provided on the light reflection quantitycontrolling layer 4; and an adhesive layer 6 provided on the magneticrecording layer 5 as needed.

The magnetic recording medium for the card according to the presentinvention can be manufactured by using the above-described laminate tobe transferred. Specifically, the magnetic recording medium for the cardcan be manufactured by the steps of: preparing a transfer-type magnetictape by cutting the laminate to be transferred; overlaying an adhesivelayer of the transfer-type magnetic tape onto a card substrate so thatthey can face each other as shown in FIG. 2; bonding the laminatecontaining the magnetic recording layer to the card substrate by heatingand pressing them; and then peeling and removing a substrate fortransfer of the tape to transfer the layer structure of the laminate(transfer-type magnetic tape) onto the surface of the card substratesuch that a protective layer of the tape is provided as the outermostsurface layer. Subsequently, the card substrate having the laminatethereon is thermal-pressed as needed to embed the layers containing themagnetic recording layer into the card substrate as shown in FIG. 3, anda magnetic card is obtained by stamping the resultant card substrateinto a predetermined size.

Each layer included in a laminate to be transferred will be described indetail below in order of being formed on a substrate for transfer.

As a substrate for transfer in the present invention, any well-knownordinary films can be used. Examples of the substrate for transferincludes, for instance, plastics films of polyesters such aspolyethylene terephthalate, polyolefins such as polypropylene, cellulosederivatives such as cellulose triacetate and polyamides. Among those,polyethylene terephthalate is preferable which has both of tensilestrength and heat resistance. A thickness of the substrate for transferis not limited in particular, but is normally 3 to 100 μm, and ispreferably 5 to 50 μm.

A protective layer can be used in a laminate to be transferred which isused in a process for manufacturing a card-like magnetic recordingmedium according to the present invention. The protective layer can beobtained, for instance, by applying a paint for the protective layer,wherein the paint includes a binder resin, a filler and the likedissolved and/or mixed in a solvent, onto a substrate for transfer witha well-known ordinary method such as a reverse method, a gravure methodand a die coat method.

The binder resin included in the protective layer can be appropriatelyselected as needed. For instance, examples of the binder resin include:a cellulose resin; a butyral resin; an acryl resin; a polyurethaneresin; a polyester resin; a vinyl chloride resin such as a copolymer ofvinyl chloride and vinyl acetate and a copolymer prepared by using vinylalcohol, maleic anhydride or acrylic acid to the vinyl chloride andvinyl acetate; an epoxy resin; a phenol resin; a melamine resin; and amixture of them.

A solvent usable for a coating liquid for the protective layer can beappropriately selected as needed. For instance, examples of the solventinclude; ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and cyclohexanone;esters such as methyl acetate, ethyl acetate and butyl acetate; alcoholssuch as ethanol; and hydrocarbons such as hexane, toluene and xylene.The aforementioned solvent can be mixed with another solvent or more,and be used.

Furthermore, the protective layer can contain soy bean lecithin,microsilica, wax or the like as needed, as a coating modifier. It ispreferable to add a curing agent such as a polyisocyanate compound tothe coating liquid in order to crosslink between molecules of a binderresin, because the durability of the protective layer is therebyimproved.

The thickness of a dried coated film of the protective layer can beappropriately selected as needed, but is preferably small from theviewpoint of recording/reproducing characteristics. The thickness ispreferably 0.1 to 5 μm in consideration of the balance between strength,durability and the like, and further preferably is 0.3 to 2 μm.

A glistening coating layer included in a laminate to be transferredwhich is used in a card-like magnetic recording medium according to thepresent invention contains a binder resin and glistening particles. Theglistening coating layer according to the present invention can beformed, for instance, by the steps of: preparing a paint for theglistening coating layer by mixing the glistening particles and acoloring agent as needed with a binder resin and a solvent which candissolve the binder resin, and dispersing the glistening particles andthe like into the solvent with a well-known usual method such as atwin-roll mill, a triple roll mill, a ball mill, a sand mill and adispersion mill; applying the obtained paint onto the protective layerwith a well-known usual method such as a reverse method, a gravurecoating method and a die coat method; and drying the applied paint. Whenglistening particles have a flaky shape, it is preferable to use adevice with a low dispersion force such as a dispersion mill, in adispersion step so that the shape of the glistening particles may not bedestroyed. It is also preferable to apply the paint with a reversemethod which can set a circulation flow quantity at a high level in theapplication so that the flaky particles do not sediment.

It is also possible to thermo-set the above-described paint by adding anisocyanate compound into the paint. As a solvent to be used in the paintfor the glistening coating layer, a well-known ordinary solvent can beused. For instance, the solvent described in the above-describedprotective layer can be used.

A glistening particle to be used in the present invention has amirror-like lustrous surface with high reflectivity, and is prepared,for instance, by coating the surface of an organic or inorganic particlewith a smooth planar surface with a metal or a metallic oxide by avacuum deposition method or a plating method. A base material to becoated is preferably a flaky substrate since light can be reflected fromthe wide mirror-like lustrous surface of a glistening particle obtainedfrom the flaky substrate and a glistening coating layer with highbrilliance can be produced using the glistening particle.

The glistening particle is further preferably a particle prepared byemploying glass or aluminum oxide as the base material which is theflaky substrate and coating the surface with the metal or the metallicoxide, because the base material has the smooth surface and accordinglythe obtained glistening particle provides high reflectance. When thebase material is glass, the base material contains SiO₂ as a maincomponent and occasionally contains a slight amount of ZnO, B₂O₃ andother components.

The flaky glass particle can have a Size appropriately selected asneeded. Preferably, it has the length of 5 to 40 μm in a plane directionof the flake and a thickness in a range of ⅕ to 1/20 of the length inthe plane direction. The width of the flaky glass particle can beappropriately selected. On the other hand, the flaky substrate as a basematerial which is aluminum oxide can also have a size appropriatelyselected as needed. Normally, it has the length of 3 to 60 μm in theplane direction of the flake, and preferably of 5 to 30 μm; and has athickness in a range of 0.1 to 0.8 μm, and preferably of 0.2 to 0.4 μm.Examples of a usable metal for coating the surface of the flakysubstrate include; metals such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium,nickel, copper, chromium and tin; and alloys thereof. A suitable methodfor coating the surface of the flaky substrate with the metal is anelectroless plating method. A coated amount (thickness) is 0.01 to 0.3μm, and is preferably 0.05 to 0.2 μm in particular. The surface of theflaky substrate having been coated with the metal may be furthersurface-treated appropriately.

Examples of a usable metallic oxide for coating the surface of the flakysubstrate include Fe₂O₃, TiO₂, SnO₂ and ZrO₂. A preferred coated amount(thickness) of the metallic oxide is 50 to 200 Å and differs accordingto a desired interference color to be obtained by the glisteningparticle. There are the “Metashine” series of products made by NipponSheet Glass Incorporated for the glistening particle using glass as abase material, and there are the “Xirallic” series of products made byMerck Co., Ltd. for the glistening particle using aluminum oxide as thebase material.

A well-known usual binder resin can be used for a binder resin to beused in a glistening coating layer. Examples of the binder resininclude, for instance, a cellulose based resin; a butyral resin; anacryl resin; a polyurethane resin; a polyester resin; vinyl chlorideresins such as a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate and acopolymer prepared by using vinyl alcohol, maleic anhydride or acrylicacid in addition to the vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate; an epoxyresin; a phenol resin; a melamine resin; a polyimide resin; a polyamideresin; a rosin-modified maleic resin; a polystyrene resin; a shellac; analkyd resin; and a mixture of those resins.

A glistening coating layer formed in the present invention can employ acoloring agent for providing a color to be a background for lightdiffuse-reflected provided by glistening particles. Examples of apigment to be used as the coloring agent include; inorganic pigmentssuch as alumina, titanium oxide, chromium oxide, iron oxide, zinc oxideand barium sulfate; and organic pigments such as an azo-based pigment, aphthalocyanine-based pigment, a quinacridon-based pigment, aperylene-based pigment, an anthraquinone-based pigment, athioindigo-based pigment and an indanthrene-based pigment. The pigmentcan be used without particular limitation. The glistening coating layercan also use a dye such as a phthalocyanine dye, an azo dye, a nitrodye, a quinoline dye, a methine dye, an azine dye and a phthalein dye,as a substitute for the above-described pigment or together with thepigment. The use of the color agent makes it possible to adjust thechromaticness and lightness of the background color to a great extent,by adjusting a reflectance of incident light on a light reflectionquantity controlling layer, by adjusting a degree of masking of themagnetic recording layer, and by using the coloring agent, by adjustingthe amount of the blended coloring agent. The pigment or the dye to beused as the above-described coloring agent absorbs the incident light tobe reflected by the glistening particles and attenuates it, so that anexcess amount of the pigment and/or dye is contained in the coatinglayer, it may decrease the brilliance of the glistening coating layer.When pigment is used for the coloring agent, it preferably has a smallparticle size and high transparency. The content of the used pigmentdiffers according to types of the pigments, but is preferably 20 mass %or less with respect to the content of a binder resin.

A glistening coating layer is preferably thick in order to emphasizeglistening brilliance caused by multidirectional diffused reflection,which is the feature of glistening particles. However, when theglistening coating layer is too thick, it increases a spacing loss andtends to decrease a reproduced output. For this reason, when employing athick glistening coating layer, it becomes necessary to compensate forthe decrease of the reproduced output by increasing the film thicknessof a magnetic recording layer. However, a resolving power, which isanother important characteristic for magnetic recording, deteriorateswith the increase of spacing and the increase of the film thickness ofthe magnetic recording layer itself. As a result of this, an error tendsto occur when the recorded information is reproduced. For this reason,there is an upper limit to the film thickness of the magnetic recordinglayer.

In consideration of the above, the film thickness of the glisteningcoating layer can be appropriately selected as needed, but is preferably2 to 5 μm, and particularly preferably is 3 to 4 μm. It is preferablefor obtaining a sufficient light diffuse-reflected by the glisteningparticles contained in the thin film that the glistening coating layercontains a high concentration of the glistening particles. A weightratio (PWC) of a solid content of the glistening particles with respectto 100 parts by weight of a solid content of a paint for the glisteningcoating layer is preferably 20 to 45 mass %, and is further preferably25 to 35 mass %. When the glistering coating layer contains more than 45mass % of the glistening particles, the glistering coating layer tendsto become brittle and the degree of the surface roughness of the coatingfilm tends to degrade.

A light reflection quantity controlling layer to be formed in thepresent invention contains a binder resin, and a scale-like metal powderor fine flakes obtained from a metallic thin film.

Examples of a usable metal for both of the scale-like metal powder andthe fine flakes obtained from a metallic thin film include; aluminum,gold, silver, copper, brass, titanium, chromium, nickel, nickel-chromealloy and stainless steel.

The scale-like metal powder can be formed by spreading a powder into ascale-like shape by a ball mill or the like. Examples of a method formanufacturing the fine flakes obtained from a metallic thin filminclude: forming a thin film by vapor deposition when alow-melting-point metal such as aluminum is used, forming a thin film asa foil when a metal having malleability such as aluminum, gold, silverand copper is used, or forming a thin film by sputtering or the likewhen a high-melting-point metal having no malleability is used; andmanufacturing the thin grains from the thin film.

The scale-like metal powder and the fine flakes obtained from a metallicthin film have a high capability of masking the magnetic recordinglayer, and can mask a hue of the magnetic recording layer with a smallthickness of the controlling layer.

The shape and size of the metal powder or the thin grains can beappropriately selected as needed, but the length in parallel to theplane is preferably 3 to 30 μm, more preferably is 5 to 25 μm, andfurther preferably is 10 to 15 μm. The thickness of the metal powder ispreferably about 0.1 to 1 μm. On the other hand, the thickness of thefine flakes obtained from a metallic thin film is preferably 0.01 to 0.1μm, and is further preferably 0.03 to 0.08 μm. When the light reflectionquantity controlling layer employs a scale-like metal powder, a formedcoating film shows a low optical reflectance, because the metal powderhas unevenness on its surface, and the particles hardly orient to aplanar direction in the coating film due to their large film thickness.On the other hand, when the light reflection quantity controlling layeremploys fine flakes obtained from a metallic thin film, a formed coatingfilm shows a high optical reflectance which is not obtained by theconventional scale-like metal powder, because the fine flakes obtainedfrom a metallic thin film have a smooth surface and can highly orient toa parallel direction to the surface of an article to be coated. In thepresent invention, any one of the scale-like metal powder and the fineflakes obtained from a metallic thin film may be used as needed or maybe used in combination.

Any of binder resins used for a conventional paint, rotogravure ink,flexographic ink, screen ink or the like can be used as the binder resinincluded in the light reflection quantity controlling layer. Forinstance, a binder resin to be used in a glistening coating layer of acard-like magnetic recording medium of the present invention can bepreferably used.

A light reflection quantity controlling layer can be formed by the stepsof: preparing a paint for forming the light reflection quantitycontrolling layer, wherein the paint consists of the binder resin, thescale-like metal powder and/or the fine flakes obtained from a metallicthin film and a solvent, using a well-known kneading machine and adispersion machine; and applying or printing the paint onto theglistening coating layer by a well-known application method or aprinting method. The paint for forming the light reflection quantitycontrolling layer may contain an additive and a curing agent in additionto the above components.

Various additives used in a conventional paint, gravure ink,flexographic ink, screen ink or the like can be used in the paint forthe light reflection quantity controlling layer as needed, in thepresent invention. Examples of the additives include; a coloringpigment, dye, wax, a plasticizer, a leveling agent, a surfactant, adispersing agent and an antifoaming agent.

The paint for the light reflection quantity controlling layer canfurther employ various curing agents used in the conventional paint, thegravure ink, the flexographic ink or the screen ink, for the purpose ofimproving various resistances such as heat resistance and solventresistance. Examples of the curing agents include; a titanium, aluminumor zinc type metal chelating agent, a silane or titanium type couplingagent, an isocyanate-based curing agent, an epoxy-based curing agent andan ethyleneimine-based curing agent.

As for a solvent to be used in the paint for the light reflectionquantity controlling layer, a well-known ordinary solvent used in aconventional paint, a gravure ink, a flexographic ink, a screen ink orthe like can be also used. Specifically, for instance, the solventdescribed in the section of the protective layer can be used.

A function of a light reflection quantity controlling layer is tocontrol the lightness and chromaticness of a background color of theglistening coating layer. This function can be achieved by adjustmentsof the reflectance of incident light and a degree of masking a hue of amagnetic recording layer. Such adjustments can provide a change of anamount of light which returns to the surface, after light is incident onthe surface of the magnetic stripe of a magnetic card at first, passesthrough the above-described glistening coating layer, and is reflectedto the light reflection quantity controlling layer. Particularly whenthe glistening coating layer colors the background color with the use ofa color pigment, the laminate can have the function of adjusting thelightness and chromaticness of the background color over a wide range,by adjusting the reflectance and masking degree of the light reflectionquantity controlling layer and an amount of the above-described colorpigment to be used.

When a magnetic stripe employs the glistening coating layer containingglistening particles and the color pigment in combination with a lightreflection quantity controlling layer having low reflectivity, it showsan appearance with low chromaticness and lightness, because the magneticrecording layer itself arranged under the light reflection quantitycontrolling layer has low optical reflectivity. On the other hand, whenthe magnetic stripe section employs the same glistening coating layer asdescribed above in combination with a light reflection quantitycontrolling layer having high reflectivity, it shows an appearance withhigh chromaticness and lightness, because the amount of the lightreflected by the light reflection quantity controlling layer increases.

Furthermore, the light reflected by the light reflection quantitycontrolling layer is repeatedly reflected in between the adjusting layerand the glistening particles so that high reflectivity of the lightreflection quantity controlling layer provides the large amount of lightreflected from the glistening particles. However, when the reflectivityof the light reflection quantity controlling layer becomes too high, themagnetic stripe section shows rather low brilliance because thebackground light becomes too bright and consequently the contrastbetween glistening appearance and the background color of the glisteningparticles decreases.

When the maximum reflectance of a diffuse reflection light regardingincident lights having a wavelength of 400 to 700 nm, which is evaluatedat the region having a glistening coating layer formed therein, is 20 to70%, the glistening coating layer preferably possesses both the clearglistening brilliance due to glistening particles and the backgroundcolor with a bright hue. The glistening coating layer more preferablyexhibits the characteristics when the maximum reflectance of the diffusereflection light is 25 to 65%, and further preferably exhibits when itis 30 to 60%. In addition, in any case, the glistening coating layerpreferably does not show excessively high luster, because otherwise theluster of a background color itself decreases the glistening appearancedue to the glistening particles.

In addition, the maximum reflectance can be measured by a method shownin Examples, which will be described later. Moreover, in the presentinvention, it can be specifically determined whether the lightreflection quantity controlling layer has completely masked a magneticrecording layer or not, by measuring, for instance, the difference ofthe lightness, chromaticness and the chromaticity between a substratefor a card having the light reflection quantity controlling layer formedon the magnetic recording layer and the substrate having the controllinglayer but no magnetic recording layer, with a color-difference meter. Inaddition, in the present invention, it is preferable to reduce the filmthickness of the light reflection quantity controlling layer, thecontent of a metallic powder and/or thin grains such that they aresmaller than values necessary for completely masking the magneticrecording layer. Then, it becomes possible to adjust the lightness ofthe background color over a wide range while maintaining the glisteningappearance with high luminance, by using the controlled layer asdescribed above in combination with the glistening coating layer.

An optical reflectivity of a light reflection quantity controlling layerdepends on a content of a scale-like metal powder or fine flakesobtained from a metallic thin film per unit surface area of the layer.The optical reflectivity can be adjusted by changing a weight ratio(PWC) of a solid content of the scale-like metal powder and/or the fineflakes obtained from a metallic thin film with respect to 100 parts byweight of a solid content of a paint for the light reflection quantitycontrolling layer, and/or by changing the film thickness of the lightreflection quantity controlling layer. The contents (PWC) of thescale-like metal powder and/or the fine flakes obtained from a metallicthin film in a paint composition for the light reflection quantitycontrolling layer according to the present invention are preferably 10to 50 mass %.

In addition, the thickness of the coating film of the light reflectionquantity controlling layer can be appropriately selected as needed.However, in order for a magnetic card to achieve adequate magneticrecording/reproducing characteristics and eliminate an error whenreading out a record, it is very important for the total film thicknessof all layers containing a glistening coating layer and a lightreflection quantity controlling layer (though excluding a magneticrecording layer) existing in a closer side to a card surface than themagnetic recording layer in the present invention to be designed so asnot to exceed 6 μm. Furthermore, the film thickness of the lightreflection quantity controlling layer is preferably as small aspossible, because more adequate brilliance can be obtained when theglistening coating layer according to the present invention has a largerfilm thickness. Accordingly, the film thickness of the light reflectionquantity controlling layer is preferably 0.1 μm or larger but 2 μm orsmaller in consideration of the film thickness of the glistening coatinglayer and the other layers.

A reflectivity and degree of masking of the magnetic recording layer ofthe light reflection quantity controlling layer to be formed in thepresent invention can be adjusted by changing the film thickness of theadjusting layer or the amount of a scale-like metal powder or fineflakes obtained from a metallic thin film contained therein, asdescribed above. In this regard, a light reflection quantity controllinglayer using a vapor-deposited film of Al or Sn, which is ordinarily usedfor masking the magnetic recording layer, cannot stably adjust thereflectivity. The reason is that the adjustment of the reflectivity isonly made by adjusting the thickness of the vapor-deposited film, but itis not easy to form a film having an extremely small thickness whilecontrolling the amount to be vapor-deposited.

On the other hand, when the hue of a magnetic recording layer is maskedby using a masking layer including a white pigment such as titaniumoxide instead of the light reflection quantity controlling layer, themasking layer tends to decrease the reproduced output and the resolvingpower since the masking layer including a white pigment needs to be morethick. In addition, the masking layer cannot show effect of enhancing aglistening appearance provided by the glistening particles, because themasking layer itself has low reflectivity.

In the above case, when control of the hue or concentration using thecolor pigment is conducted in order to adjust the background color, theglistening coating layer may decrease the glistening appearance. Thereason is that brilliance achieved by the glistening particles isgreatly affected by change of absorptivity of incident light.

In order for a card-like magnetic recording medium according to thepresent invention to achieve a glistening coating layer havingglistening brilliance, moderate lightness and high chromaticness, thelight reflection quantity controlling layer preferably shows reflectancerange of the diffuse reflection light, such that the maximum reflectanceregarding incident lights having wavelength of 400 to 700 nm, which isincluded in a visible light range, is in the range of 20 to 70%. Whenthe reflectance of the diffuse reflection light is less than 20%,effective chromaticness is not obtained because the background colorbecomes dark. In addition, the amount of light reflected by the lightreflection quantity controlling layer back to the glistening particlesalso decreases, so that the number of luminescent spots showingbrilliance and luminosity tends to decrease even though the glisteningcoating layer shows brilliance. On the other hand, when the reflectanceexceeds 70%, the intensity of light reflected by the light reflectionquantity controlling layer becomes much higher than that of lightreflected by the glistening particles contained in the glisteningcoating layer, which makes the background color too bright and tends todecrease the glistening brilliance. The maximum reflectance of thediffuse reflection light at the light reflection quantity controllinglayer is preferably in a range of 25 to 65%, and is further preferablyin a range of 30 to 60%.

The light reflection quantity controlling layer containing a scale-likemetal powder and/or fine flakes obtained from a metallic thin film to beused in the present invention tends to be a film which does not showhigh luster compared to such a film having high luster formed by thevapor deposition of a metal as a normal masking layer. Excessively highluster tends to deteriorate the brilliance provided by glisteningparticles, and accordingly in this regard as well, it is preferable touse the light reflection quantity controlling layer including ascale-like metal powder and/or fine flakes obtained from a metallic thinfilm.

A magnetic recording layer in a laminate to be transferred which is usedfor manufacturing a card-like magnetic recording medium according to thepresent invention can be formed, for instance, by the steps of: forminga protective layer, a glistening coating layer and a light reflectionquantity controlling layer on a substrate for transfer in that order;further applying a paint for the magnetic recording layer containing amagnetic powder, a binder resin and a solvent for dissolving the binderresin therein; orienting the magnetic powder; and drying the appliedpaint.

Examples of a usable magnetic powder include well-known magnetic powderssuch as y-iron oxide, magnetite, cobalt-covered iron oxide, chromiumdioxide, ferrous metal magnetic powder, barium ferrite and strontiumferrite. Preferably the powder has coercive force in a range of 20 to320 kA/m.

A well-known usual binder resin can be used as a binder resin to be usedin the magnetic recording layer, and, for instance, the binder resindescribed in the section of the glistening coating layer or the like canbe used in general. The paint for the magnetic recording layer can alsoemploy an isocyanate compound for thermo-setting. In addition, examplesof a usable solvent for the paint for the magnetic recording layerinclude, for instance, the solvent described in the section of theprotective layer or the like in general.

A dry film thickness of the magnetic recording layer can beappropriately selected as needed, but is preferably in a range of 2 to50 μm, and is further preferably in a range of 5 to 20 μm.

The magnetic paint can also contain the followings as needed:auxiliaries such as a surface active agent, a silane coupling agent, aplasticizer, a wax and a silicone oil; and further fillers such ascarbon black.

Paint for a magnetic recording layer can be obtained, for instance, bykneading and dispersing the above-described magnetic powder, the binderresin and the solvent with a well-known usual method. Examples of ausable kneading/dispersing machine include, for instance, a twin-rollmill, a triple roll mill, a ball mill, a Henschel mixer, a cobol mill, asand mill, a dispersion mill, a homogenizer and a kneader.

A method for applying the paint for the magnetic recording layer is notlimited in particular, and a well-known usual application method may beused. After a predetermined amount of the magnetic paint has beenapplied, the magnetic powder is oriented so that the easily-magnetizabledirection orients to a longitudinal direction of the applied magneticrecording layer, and the magnetic paint is dried. Examples of a usableapplication method include, for instance, a gravure method, a reversemethod, a transfer-roll coating method, a kiss coating method and a dyecoating method.

In addition, it is preferable to subject the paint applied by theabove-described application method to the magnetic-field orientationtreatment before the coated film dries, from the viewpoint ofrecording/reproducing characteristics. As for a method of orienting themagnetic field, a well-known method using a repulsion-opposing permanentmagnet or a solenoid type electromagnet can be used. The intensity ofthe magnetic field is preferably in a range of 1,000 to 6,000 G.

An adhesive layer can be used in a laminate to be transferred which isused in a process for manufacturing a card-like magnetic recordingmedium according to the present invention. The adhesive layer can beobtained by the general steps of: preparing an adhesive paint bydissolving a resin showing heat-sensitive adhesiveness into a solvent,and mixing/stirring the solution; applying the adhesive paint onto amagnetic recording layer with a well-known method such as a reversemethod, a gravure method and a die coating method; and drying theapplied adhesive paint.

Examples of the resin showing the heat-sensitive adhesiveness include;for instance, vinyl chloride resins such as a copolymer of vinylchloride and vinyl acetate, and a copolymer of vinyl alcohol, maleicanhydride, acrylic acid or the like in addition to the above-describedcomponents; polyester resins; acryl resins; polyimide resins; andpolyurethane resins. The solvent to be used in the adhesive layer canemploy, for instance, a solvent described in the section of a protectivelayer.

A film thickness of the adhesive layer can be appropriately selected asneeded, but is preferably 0.5 to 15 μm and is particularly preferably0.5 to 5 μm.

As described above, the details of each layer was described in the orderof stacking the respective layers on a substrate for transfer, whenmanufacturing the laminate to be transferred according to the presentinvention. A card-like magnetic recording medium according to thepresent invention can be manufactured in the above-described transferstep by one operation with the use of the laminate to be transferred. Alight reflection quantity controlling layer and a glistening coatinglayer according to the present invention may cover the whole surface ofthe card substrate. In that case, the glistening coating layer and thelight reflection quantity controlling layer may be formed by anapplication or transfer operation in a step other than that for amagnetic recording layer. Furthermore, the magnetic recording layer tobe coated may be formed so as to cover the whole substrate for the cardand can be appropriately formed by using a well-known procedure formanufacturing the magnetic card.

Thus, the laminate to be transferred is made by stacking each layer onthe substrate for transfer in a reverse order to that on a realcard-like magnetic recording medium. When the substrate for transfer istransparent, a pattern to be actually transferred onto the substrate forthe card can be confirmed from the substrate for transfer side.Accordingly, by confirming the pattern from the transparent substrateside for transfer, it is possible to produce the laminate to betransferred so that the maximum reflectance of a diffuse reflectionlight regarding an incident lights having wavelength of 400 to 700 nmcan be in a range of 20 to 70% in a region having the above-describedglistening coating layer formed thereon. The maximum reflectance of thediffuse reflection light is preferably in a range of 25 to 65%, and isfurther preferably in a range of 30 to 60%. As described above, themethod for manufacturing a magnetic card by forming each layer on asubstrate for the card through a transfer step was described in detail.In addition, the card-like magnetic recording medium according to thepresent invention may be manufactured by the steps of applying theabove-described respective layers. The card-like magnetic recordingmedium may also be manufactured by the steps of forming some layers in atransfer step and forming the other layers in an application step.

EXAMPLES

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail withreference to Examples and Comparative Examples, but is not limited toExamples. In the following description, “part” shall mean part by mass.

A substrate for transfer and each paint shown below are used in Examplesand Comparative Examples.

Substrate for transfer: polyethylene terephthalate film with thethickness of 24 μm Paint for protective layer polyvinyl butyral resin 10parts (“S-Lec BM-1” made by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) MEK 35 partstoluene 35 parts ethanol 20 parts polyisocyanate 4 parts (“Hardener No.50 (active ingredient: 50%)” made by Dainippon Ink & ChemicalsIncorporated)

The paint for a protective layer was prepared by the steps of: stirringall the materials except for polyisocyanate with a dispersion mill toform a uniform solution; adding the polyisocyanate to the solution; andfurther stirring the resultant solution with a dispersion mill touniform the solution.

Paint [A] for glistening coating layer: color pigment with yellowglistening particles 10 parts (“Metashine ME2025PS” made by Nippon SheetGlass Incorporated) color pigment A (yellow color: isoindoline yellow) 2parts vinyl chloride - vinyl acetate copolymer resin 16 parts (“VAGH”made by Union Carbide Corp.) polyurethane resin 4 parts (“TS-03” made byDainippon Ink & Chemicals Incorporated) methyl ethyl ketone 65 partstoluene 65 parts cyclohexanone 15 parts polyisocyanate 3 parts(“Hardener No. 50 (active ingredient: 50%)” made by Dainippon Ink &Chemicals Incorporated)

The paint [A] for a glistening coating layer was prepared by the stepsof: stirring all the materials except for the glistening particles andthe polyisocyanate with a dispersion mill to form a uniform solution;adding the glistening particles to the solution; further stirring theresultant dispersion with a dispersion mill to uniform the dispersion;adding the polyisocyanate to the dispersion; and further stirring theresultant dispersion with a dispersion mill to uniform it.

Paint [B] for Glistening Coating Layer: Color Pigment with Blue

The [B] paint [B] for the glistening coating layer was prepared by thesame method as in the case of the paint [A] for the glistening coatinglayer, except that a color pigment B (blue: phthalocyanine blue) wassubstituted for a color pigment A (yellow: isoindoline yellow) in thepaint [A] for the glistening coating layer.

Paint [C] for Glistening Coating Layer: Color Pigment with Green

The paint [C] for the glistening coating layer was prepared by the samemethod as in the case of the paint [A] for the glistening coating layer,except that a color pigment C (green: phthalocyanine green) wassubstituted for a color pigment A (yellow: isoindoline yellow) in thepaint [A] for the glistening coating layer.

Paint [D] for Glistening Coating Layer: Color Pigment with Red

The paint [D] for the glistening coating layer was prepared by the samemethod as in the case of the paint [A] for the glistening coating layer,except that a color pigment D (red: perylene red) was substituted for acolor pigment A (yellow; isoindoline yellow) in the paint [A] for theglistening coating layer.

Paint [E] for pearl-toned glossy coating layer: color pigment withyellow pearl-toned glossy particles 10 parts (pearl-toned pigment“Iriodin 153” formed from mica type iron oxide material coated withtitanium oxide, made by Merck & Co.) color pigment A (yellow:isoindoline yellow) 2 parts vinyl chloride - vinyl acetate copolymerresin 16 parts (“VAGH” made by Union Carbide Corp.) polyurethane resin 4parts (“TS-03” made by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals Incorporated) methylethyl ketone 65 parts toluene 65 parts cyclohexanone 15 partspolyisocyanate 3 parts (“Hardener No. 50 (active ingredient: 50%)” madeby Dainippon Ink & Chemicals Incorporated)

A paint [E] for a pearl-toned glossy coating layer was prepared by usingthe above-described materials with the same method as in the case of apaint [A] for a glistening coating layer.

Paint [F] for Pearl-Toned Glossy Coating Layer: Color Pigment with Blue

A paint [F] for the glistening coating layer was prepared by the samemethod as in the case of the paint [E] for a pearl-toned glossy coatinglayer, except that a color pigment B (blue: phthalocyanine blue) wassubstituted for a color pigment A (yellow: isoindoline yellow) in thepaint [E] for the pearl-toned glossy coating layer.

Paint [G] for Pearl-Toned Glossy Coating Layer; Color Pigment with Green

A paint [G] for a glistening coating layer was prepared by the samemethod as in the case of the paint [E] for a pearl-toned glossy coatinglayer, except that a color pigment C (green: phthalocyanine green) wassubstituted for a color pigment A (yellow: isoindoline yellow) in thepaint [E] for the pearl-toned glossy coating layer.

Paint [H] for Pearl-Toned Glossy Coating Layer: Color Pigment with Red

A paint [H] for a glistening coating layer was prepared by the samemethod as in the case of the paint [E] for a pearl-toned glossy coatinglayer, except that a color pigment D (red: perylene red) was substitutedfor a color pigment A (yellow: isoindoline yellow) in the paint [E] forthe pearl-toned glossy coating layer.

Paint [I] for pearl-toned glossy coating layer: containing no colorpigment pearl-toned glossy particles 12 parts (“Iron Oxide PearlyPigment AM-200” made by Titan Kogyo K.K. vinyl chloride - vinyl acetatecopolymer resin 16 parts (“VAGH” made by Union Carbide Corp.)polyurethane resin 4 parts (“TS-03” made by Dainippon Ink & ChemicalsIncorporated) methyl ethyl ketone 65 parts toluene 65 partscyclohexanone 15 parts polyisocyanate 3 parts (“Hardener No. 50 (activeingredient: 50%)” made by Dainippon Ink & Chemcials Incorporated)

A paint [I] for a pearl-toned glossy coating layer was prepared by usingthe above-described materials with the same method as in the case of thepaint [A] for a glistening coating layer.

Paint [J] for pearl-toned glossy coating layer: color pigment with bluepearl-toned glossy particles 10 parts (“Iron Oxide Pearly PigmentAM-200” made by Titan Kogyo K.K. color pigment B (blue: phthalocyanineblue) 2 parts vinyl chloride - vinyl acetate copolymer resin 16 parts(“VAGH” made by Union Carbide Corp.) polyurethane resin 4 parts (“TS-03”made by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals Incorporated) methyl ethyl ketone 65parts toluene 65 parts cyclohexanone 15 parts polyisocyanate 3 parts(“Hardener No. 50 (active ingredient: 50%)” made by Dainippon Ink &Chemicals Incorporated)

A paint [J] for a pearl-toned glossy coating layer was prepared by usingthe above-described materials with the same method as in the case of thepaint [A] for a glistening coating layer.

Paint [A] for light reflection quantity controlling layer scale-likemetal powder: aluminum powder 10 parts (“210 EA” made by Showa AluminumPowder K.K.) vinyl chloride - vinyl acetate copolymer resin 20 parts(“VAGH” made by Union Carbide Corp.) polyurethane resin 5 parts (“TS-03”made by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals Incorporated) methyl ethyl ketone 75parts toluene 75 parts cyclohexanone 17 parts polyisocyanate 15 parts(“Hardener No. 50 (active ingredient: 50%)” made by Dainippon Ink &Chemicals Incorporated)

The paint [A] for a light reflection quantity controlling layer wasprepared by the steps of: stirring all the above-described materialsexcept for the scale-like metal powder and the polyisocyanate with adispersion mill to form a uniform solution; adding the scale-like metalpowder to the solution; further stirring the resultant dispersion with adispersion mill to uniform the dispersion; adding the polyisocyanate tothe dispersion; and further stirring the resultant dispersion with adispersion mill to uniform it.

Paint [B] for light reflection quantity controlling layer fine flakesobtained from a metallic thin film: vapor 10 parts deposited aluminumflake pigment (“Metasheen Slury KM-100” made by Toyo Aluminum K.K.)vinyl chloride - vinyl acetate copolymer resin 40 parts (“VAGH” made byUnion Carbide Corp.) polyurethane resin 10 parts (“TS-03” made byDainippon Ink & Chemicals Incorporated) methyl ethyl ketone 218 partstoluene 218 parts cyclohexanone 49 parts polyisocyanate 30 parts(“Hardener No. 50 (active ingredient: 50%)” made by Dainippon Ink &Chemicals Incorporated)

The paint [B] for a light reflection quantity controlling layer wasprepared by using the above-described materials with the same method asin the case of the paint [A] for a light reflection quantity controllinglayer.

Paint [C] for light reflection quantity controlling layer fine flakesobtained from a metallic thin film: vapor 20 parts deposited aluminuimflake pigment (“Metasheen Slury KM-100” made by Toyo Aluminum K.K.)vinyl chloride - vinyl acetate copolymer resin 40 parts (“VAGH” made byUnion Carbide Corp.) polyurethane resin 10 parts (“TS-03” made byDainippon Ink & Chemicals Incorporated) methyl ethyl ketone 218 partstoluene 218 parts cyclohexanone 49 parts polyisocyanate 30 parts(“Hardener No. 50 (active ingredient: 50%)” made by Dainippon Ink &Chemicals)

The paint [C] for a light reflection quantity controlling layer wasprepared by using the above-described materials with the same method asin the case of the paint [A] for a light reflection quantity controllinglayer.

Paint for magnetic recording layer magnetic powder of barium ferrite 100parts (“MC-127” with coercive force of 220 kA/m, made by Toda KogyoIncorporated) vinyl chloride - vinyl acetate copolymer resin 15 parts(“MR-110” made by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.) polyurethane resin 10 parts(“L7-750” made by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals incorporated) MEK 50 partstoluene 50 parts cyclohexanone 25 parts polyisocyanate 10 parts(“Hardener No. 50 (active ingredient: 50%)” made by Dainippon Ink &Chemicals Incorporated)

A paint for a magnetic recording layer was prepared by using theabove-described materials with the method shown in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application, First Publication No. Hei 9-59541

Adhesive paint polyurethane resin 1 part (“TS-03” made by Dainippon Ink& Chemicals Incorporated) vinyl chloride - vinyl acetate copolymer resin4 parts (“Solbine C5” made by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd) MEK 45parts toluene 50 parts

The paint for an adhesive layer was prepared by stirring theabove-described materials with a dispersion mill to sufficientlydissolve the resins in the solvents and form a uniform solution.

Example 1

A polyethylene terephthalate film with a thickness of 24 μm was employedas a substrate for transfer. The above-described paint for theprotective layer, the paint [A] for a glistening coating layer, thepaint [A] for a light reflection quantity controlling layer, the paintfor a magnetic recording layer and the adhesive paint were applied toone surface of the film in that order each using a reverse coater, andwere dried to respectively form a protective coating layer, a glisteningcoating layer, a light reflection quantity controlling layer, a magneticrecording layer and an adhesive layer. Each layer was formed so as toacquire a film thicknesses of 1 μm for the protective layer, 3 μm forthe glistening coating layer, 0.3 μm for the light reflection quantitycontrolling layer, 9 μm for the magnetic recording layer, and 1.5 μm forthe adhesive layer, after the respective layers had dried. A laminate tobe transferred was prepared by cutting the film provided with theabove-described respective layers into a width of ½ inch.

The card-like magnetic recording medium was prepared by the steps of:transferring the above prepared laminate to be transferred(transfer-type magnetic tape) onto a card substrate (made by TaiheiChemical Industrial Co., Ltd.) made from polyvinyl chloride, using acard-preparing machine (“LX-EM4” made by Interline Incorporated);removing the substrate for transfer; heat-pressing the card substrateunder conditions of 140° C. and 0.13 MPa; and then stamping the cardsubstrate into a card shape.

Example 2 to Example 25 and Comparative Example 1 to Comparative Example11

Card-like magnetic recording media of Example 2 to Example 25 andComparative Example 1 to Comparative Example 11 were prepared by thesteps of: preparing the laminate to be transferred corresponding to therespective Examples with the same method as in the case of Example 1,except that combinations shown Table 1 were employed; transferring thelaminate onto a card substrate; and hot-pressing the card substrate.

Evaluation Method

(Chromaticness)

Lightness (L) and chromaticity {a* and b*} were measured on a magneticstripe section of the obtained magnetic card using “colorimetriccolor-difference meter SZ-Σ80” made by Nippon Denshoku KogyoIncorporated, and chromaticness C*=√(a*2+b*2) was determined by usingthe measured values. For information, the larger the value of thelightness, the brighter the magnetic stripe section, and the larger thevalue of the chromaticness, the more vivid color the magnetic stripesection.

(Diffuse Reflection Factor)

The maximum reflectance in the specific range was determined by thesteps of: measuring a diffuse reflection regarding each incident lightincluded in a visible light range between wavelengths of 400 and 700 nmon a magnetic stripe section of the obtained magnetic card, in otherwords, on a region having a glistening coating layer therein, by usingan integrating sphere method with the use of “Shimadzu SpectrometerUV-3100” made by Shimadzu Incorporated; and selecting the maximum valueof diffuse reflection lights in the measured wavelength range.

(Visual Evaluation: Brightness and Hue)

Brightness and hue on a magnetic stripe section in an obtained magneticcard were evaluated by visual observation. The quality of brightness wasvisually evaluated from the glistening appearance. The quality of huewas set at “X” for a hue on a sample having no light reflection quantitycontrolling layer, and was evaluated to be “◯” for a hue on a samplehaving shown an effect of improving chromaticness.

Brightness:

-   -   ◯ . . . showing brightness with high luminance,    -   Δ . . . showing insufficient luminance of brightness,    -   X . . . showing no brightness

Hue:

-   -   ◯ . . . showing remarkable improvement in chromaticness,    -   Δ . . . showing little improvement in chromaticness,    -   X . . . showing no improvement in chromaticness

(Resolving Power)

Recording/reproducing characteristics of the obtained magnetic cardswere measured in accordance with ISO (International StandardizationOrganization)/IEC7811-6 using MAGTESTER 2000 made by BARNESIncorporated. In addition, transfer-type magnetic tapes used forpreparing the magnetic card samples do not have equal film thicknessesof the magnetic recording layer and the non-magnetic layers other thanthe magnetic recording layer, so that each sample used for measuring therecording/reproducing characteristics was prepared so as to have acontrolled film thickness of a magnetic recording layer in order to makethe magnetic recording layer output the same reproduced output value asthat of a standard output sample.

◯ . . . regenerating 90% or more, X . . . regenerating less than 90%

TABLE 1 Glistening/pearl- Light reflection toned glossy quantity coatingfilm controlling layer Color of Film Diffuse color thickness reflectionResolving Visual evaluation No. Type pigment Type (um) a* b*Chromaticness Lightness factor (%) power Brightness Hue Ex. 1 A Yellow A0.3 −1.3 14.4 14.5 41.6 26.5   -Δ Ex. 2 A Yellow A 0.7 −1.7 18.7 18.848.4 34.3    Ex. 3 A Yellow A 1.5 −2.4 22.7 22.8 54.8 41.9    Ex.4 A Yellow B 0.4 −3.2 21.9 22.2 53.8 50.8    Ex. 5 A Yellow B 1.4−3.2 25.2 25.4 58.9 58.6    Ex. 6 A Yellow B 2.0 −3.3 25.8 26.0 59.962.0  -Δ  Ex. 7 A Yellow C 2.0 −3.4 26.9 27.1 60.9 66.3  Δ  Ex. 8 BBlue A 0.3 −8.2 −11.7 14.3 33.1 24.3   Δ Ex. 9 B Blue A 0.7 −11.8−16.9 20.6 36.6 33.1    Ex. 10 B Blue A 1.5 −15.0 −22.0 26.6 39.941.0    Ex. 11 B Blue B 0.4 −15.1 −24.1 28.5 40.9 51.3    Ex. 12 BBlue B 1.4 −16.5 −26.7 31.4 42.6 58.7    Ex. 13 B Blue B 2.0 −17.1−27.7 32.5 43.2 61.7  -Δ  Ex. 14 C Green A 0.3 −15.6 1.7 15.7 35.024.9   Δ Ex. 15 C Green A 0.7 −19.0 2.1 19.1 38.1 33.1    Ex. 16 CGreen A 1.5 −24.5 2.2 24.6 43.3 41.3    Ex. 17 C Green B 0.4 −24.22.1 24.3 43.0 47.6    Ex. 18 C Green B 1.4 −27.9 2.2 28.0 46.4 58.0   Ex. 19 C Green B 2.0 −29.7 2.3 29.8 48.1 61.5  -Δ  Ex. 20 D Red A0.3 21.8 4.6 22.3 32.7 28.3   -Δ Ex. 21 D Red A 0.7 25.2 5.3 25.734.1 32.8    Ex. 22 D Red A 1.5 31.1 5.9 31.7 36.6 40.4    Ex. 23D Red B 0.4 32.0 6.6 32.7 37.0 48.9    Ex. 24 D Red B 1.4 37.4 7.138.0 39.2 58.6    Ex. 25 D Red B 2.0 39.5 7.5 40.2 40.1 62.0  -Δ Com. Ex. 1 A Yellow None — −0.7 7.7 7.8 30.9 15.9   X Com. Ex. 2 BBlue None — −2.6 −1.7 3.1 26.9 10.9   X Com. Ex. 3 C Green None — −5.41.5 5.6 25.6 10.1   X Com. Ex. 4 D Red None — 7.8 3.8 8.7 27.0 13.9  X Com. Ex. 5 E Yellow B 1.4 −3.0 23.6 23.8 56.4 55.0  X  Com. Ex. 6F Blue B 1.4 −15.2 −24.7 29.0 41.2 54.2  X  Com. Ex. 7 G Green B 1.4−27.1 2.1 27.2 45.7 56.4  X  Com. Ex. 8 H Red B 1.4 36.7 6.9 37.3 38.957.5  X  Com. Ex. 9 I None None — 21.4 14.1 25.6 34.0 30.5   X Com.Ex. 10 J Blue None — 3.8 −2.7 4.7 24.8 14.8  X X Com. Ex. 11 J Blue B1.4 −2.0 −1.7 2.6 23.2 10.9  X X

As is clear from the results shown in Table 1, the present Examples 1 to25 showed an effect of improving glistening brilliance and thechromaticness of a hue, and also showed an adequate resolving power,because all the Examples possessed a glistening coating layer, whichcontains glistening particles made of a flaky substrate coated with ametal or a metallic oxide, and is formed by a method for forming theglistening coating layer according to the present invention, via a lightreflection quantity controlling layer containing a metal powder or fineflakes obtained from a metallic thin film. However, as the maximum of adiffuse reflection factor exceeded 60%, the brilliance tended to degradeto a small extent because the background became bright, and as thediffuse reflection factor approached 70%, the brightness tended todegrade. In addition, as the diffuse reflection factor approached 20%,the chromaticness tended to degrade. In other words, the hue tended todegrade.

On the other hand, Comparative Examples 1 to 4 showed low chromaticness,in other words, showed insufficient hue on a magnetic stripe, becausethe Comparative Examples did not have the light reflection quantitycontrolling layer according to the present invention applied between themagnetic layer and the glistening coating layer.

In addition, Comparative Examples 5 to 8 could not show the glisteningbrilliance which is a purpose of the present invention, because theComparative Examples employed a pearl-toned glossy particle (pearl-tonedpigment) which is made from mica material coated with titanium oxide andexhibits a pearly luster, instead of a glistening particle used in theglistening coating layer according to the present invention.

In addition, Comparative Example 9 did not show high chromaticness,because the Comparative Example employed a pearl-toned glossy particle(pearl-toned pigment of iron oxide) made from a MIO material (iron oxidewith mica shape) coated with titanium oxide in the glistening coatinglayer, instead of a color pigment and a glistening particle used in theglistening coating layer according to the present invention, and did nothave a light reflection quantity controlling layer applied between themagnetic layer and the glistening coating layer.

In addition, Comparative Examples 10 and 11 showed remarkably degradedchromaticness and little brilliance in any cases of having the lightreflection quantity controlling layer applied between the magnetic layerand the glistening coating layer and having no light reflection quantitycontrolling layer applied between them, because the Comparative Examplesemployed the pearl-toned glossy particle (pearl-toned pigment of ironoxide) made from a MIO material (iron oxide with mica shape) coated withtitanium oxide and further a blue-colored pigment for its glisteningcoating layer, instead of a color pigment and a glistening particle usedin the glistening coating layer according to the present invention.

As is clear from Table 1, the present Examples can preferably adjust thelightness (diffuse reflection factor) and chromaticness of a glisteningcoating layer containing glistening particles by changing the filmthickness of a light reflection quantity controlling layer.

The present Examples can adjust their chromaticnesses in particularwithout changing their hues by changing the reflectance of the lightreflection quantity controlling layer and masking degree, andaccordingly can extremely easily adjust the chromaticness when adjustingthe hue of a background color in combination with pigment.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can provide a card-like magnetic recording mediumhaving high luminance and glistening brilliance, of which thechromaticness and the lightness of the background color can be easilyadjusted; a manufacturing method therefor; and a laminate to betransferred used for manufacturing the same.

1. A card-like magnetic recording medium comprising a non-magneticsubstrate and a laminate containing a magnetic recording layer whereinthe laminate is placed in at least a portion of the non-magneticsubstrate; wherein the laminate comprises a light reflection quantitycontrolling layer, which includes a binder resin and at least one of ascale-like metal powder and fine flakes obtained from a metallic thinfilm and is formed on the magnetic recording layer, and furthercomprises a glistening coating layer which includes glistening particlesand is formed on the light reflection quantity controlling layer; andthe maximum reflectance of diffuse reflection light with respect toincident lights having a wavelength from 400 to 700 nm is 20 to 70% on aportion where the glistening coating layer is provided.
 2. A card-likemagnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the maximumreflectance of diffuse reflection light with respect to incident lightshaving wavelength to 400 and 700 nm is 30 to 60% on a portion where theglistening coating layer of the magnetic recording medium is formed. 3.The magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein theglistening particles are a particle which is a flaky substrate coatedwith a metal or a metallic oxide.
 4. The card-like magnetic recordingmedium according to claim 3, wherein the flaky substrate is made ofglass or aluminum oxide.
 5. The card-like magnetic recording mediumaccording to claim 1, wherein the total film thickness of all the layerswhich are provided on the magnetic recording layer and include the lightreflection quantity controlling layer and the glistening coating layeris 6 μm or smaller.
 6. The card-like magnetic recording medium accordingto claim 5, wherein the film thickness of the light reflection quantitycontrolling layer is 2 μm or less.
 7. The card-like magnetic recordingmedium according to claim 6, wherein the glistening coating layercontains a color pigment.
 8. A method for manufacturing a card-likemagnetic recording medium, which comprises a non-magnetic substrate anda magnetic recording layer provided in at least a portion of thenon-magnetic substrate and has a pattern with a background color andluminescent spots uniformly distributed in the background color on themagnetic recording layer, comprising: forming a light reflectionquantity controlling layer containing a binder resin and at least one ofa scale-like metal powder and fine flakes obtained from a metallic thinfilm, and a glistening coating layer containing a binder resin andglistening particles, on a magnetic recording layer in that order, sothat at least one of a film thickness of the light reflection quantitycontrolling layer and the content of the scale-like metal powder and/orthe fine flakes obtained from a metallic thin film are lower than therequired value for completely masking the magnetic recording layer, toobtain a card-like magnetic recording medium having controlled lightnessand chromaticness of the background color.
 9. The method formanufacturing the card-like magnetic recording medium according to claim8, wherein the glistening coating layer contains a color pigment. 10.The method for manufacturing the card-like magnetic recording mediumaccording to claim 9, wherein the glistening particle is a particlewhich as a flaky substrate coated with a metal or a metallic oxide. 11.The method for manufacturing the card-like magnetic recording mediumaccording to claim 9, wherein the flaky substrate is made of glass oraluminum oxide.
 12. The method for manufacturing the card-like magneticrecording medium according to claim 9, wherein the card-like magneticrecording medium is formed by transferring a laminate to be transferred,in which the glistening coating layer containing glistening particles,the light reflection quantity controlling layer, and the magneticrecording layer are laminated on a substrate for transfer in that order.13. A laminate to be transferred which is used in the method formanufacturing the card-like magnetic recording medium according to claim12.
 14. The method for manufacturing the card-like magnetic recordingmedium according to claim 8, wherein the maximum reflectance of diffusereflection light with respect to incident lights having wavelength of400 to 700 nm on the portion where the glistening coating layer isprovided in the card-like magnetic recording medium is controlledbetween 20 to 70% by adjusting the lightness and chromaticness of thebackground color.
 15. The card-like magnetic recording medium accordingto claim 1, wherein least on one of a film thickness of the lightreflection quantity controlling layer and the content of the scale-likemetal powder and/or the fine flakes obtained from a metallic thin filmare lower than the required value for completely masking the magneticrecording layer.
 16. The magnetic recording medium according to claim 1,wherein the film thickness of the glistening coating layer is in therange of 2 to 5 μm.
 17. The magnetic recording medium according to claim1, wherein a weight ratio of a solid content of the glistening particlesis 20 to 45 mass % based on 100 parts by weight of a solid content of apaint for the glistening coating layer.
 18. The method for manufacturingthe card-like magnetic recording medium according to claim 8, whereinthe card-like magnetic recording medium is formed by transferring alaminate to be transferred, in which the glistening coating layercontaining glistening particles, the light reflection quantitycontrolling layer, and the magnetic recording layer are laminated on asubstrate for transfer in that order.
 19. A laminate to be transferredwhich is used in the method for manufacturing the card-like magneticrecording medium according to claim
 18. 20. The card-like magneticrecording medium according to claim 1, wherein the glistening coatinglayer contains a color pigment.
 21. The card-like magnetic recordingmedium according to claim 2, wherein the glistening coating layercontains a color pigment.
 22. The card-like magnetic recording mediumaccording to claim 3, wherein the glistening coating layer contains acolor pigment.
 23. The card-like magnetic recording medium according toclaim 4, wherein the glistening coating layer contains a color pigment.24. The card-like magnetic recording medium according to claim 5,wherein the glistening coating layer contains a color pigment.